Apparatus for electrical connection of electromagnetically actuatable fuel injection valves

Abstract

An apparatus for effecting electrical connection of fuel injection valves for fuel injection systems of internal combustion engines connected to an electronic control unit simultaneously onto each of the individual fuel injection valves. The individual plugs of the apparatus associated with each fuel injection valve are disposed on a common connection strip which can be fastened to the engine by means of threaded bolts and can be connected to the electronic control unit by means of a cable harness.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by letters patent of the United States is: 
     
       1. An apparatus for connecting an electronic control unit to electrical contacts of at least two electromagnetically actuatable fuel injection valves of a fuel injection system for an internal combustion engine which comprises a common connection strip including at least two connection plugs, electrically conductive elements disposed in said plugs, electrically conductive conductors disposed on said connection strip and connected to said electronic control unit and to said electrically conductive elements in said plugs. 
     
     
       2. An apparatus as defined by claim 1, in which said common connection strip (14, 46, 70) includes fastening means to fasten said common connection strip to the engine. 
     
     
       3. An apparatus as defined by claim 1, in which each plug (9) is embodied by a first plug part (25, 71) and a second plug part (26, 88), which are connectable to one another. 
     
     
       4. An apparatus as defined by claim 2, in which each plug (9) is embodied by a first plug part (25, 71) and a second plug part (26, 88), which are connectable to one another. 
     
     
       5. An apparatus as defined by claim 3, in which one of said plug parts (25, 26) has an extension (27) in an axial direction, which protrudes engagingly through a plug opening (28) of said connection strip (14) and protrudes into the other plug part (25, 26). 
     
     
       6. An apparatus as defined by claim 4, in which one of said plug parts (25, 26) has an extension (27) in an axial direction, which protrudes engagingly through a plug opening (28) of said connection strip (14) and protrudes into the other plug part (25, 26). 
     
     
       7. An apparatus as defined by claim 5, in which said connection strip (14) is inserted in between said first and second plug parts (25, 26). 
     
     
       8. An apparatus as defined by claim 6, in which said connection strip (14) is inserted in between said first and second plug parts (25, 26). 
     
     
       9. An apparatus as defined by claim 3, in which said first and second plug parts (25, 26, 71, 88) are connectable with one another by means of a detent connection (30, 31). 
     
     
       10. An apparatus as defined by claim 4, in which said first and second plug part (25, 26, 71, 88) are connectable with one another by means of a detent connection (30, 31). 
     
     
       11. An apparatus as defined by claim 3, in which said second plug part (26) is oriented toward the fuel injection valve (1) and exerts a force upon the fuel injection valve (1) for an axial fixation of the fuel injection valve (1). 
     
     
       12. An apparatus as defined by claim 4, in which said second plug part (26) is oriented toward the fuel injection valve (1) and exerts a force upon the fuel injection valve (1) for an axial fixation of the fuel injection valve (1). 
     
     
       13. An apparatus as defined by claim 1, in which said plugs (9) are embodied on the connection strip (46, 70) made from plastic and said electrically conductive elements (37) are secured in the plugs (9) and connected with electric lines (20, 85) guided in the connection stirp (46, 70). 
     
     
       14. An apparatus as defined by claim 2, in which said plugs (9) are embodied on the connection strip (46, 70) made from plastic and said electrically conductive elements (37) are secured in the plugs (9) and connected with electric lines (20, 85) guided in the connection strip (46, 70). 
     
     
       15. An apparatus as defined by claim 13, in which said electric lines (20, 85) are embodied at least in part as strip-like contact rails, and said strip like contact rails (20, 85) are provided, in the vicinity of the plugs (9), with said electrically conductive elements (37) embodied in the form of flat plugs which engage said electrical contacts of the fuel injection valves that protrude into them. 
     
     
       16. An apparatus as defined by claim 14, in which said electric lines (20, 85) are embodied at least in part as strip-like contact rails, and said strip like contact rails (20, 85) are provided, in the vicinity of the plugs (9), with said electrically conductive elements (37) embodied in the form of flat plugs which engage said electrical contacts of the fuel injection valves that protrude into them. 
     
     
       17. An apparatus as defined by claim 13, in which said connection strip (46, 70) exerts a force upon the fuel injection valve (1) for axially fixing the fuel injection valve (1) in place. 
     
     
       18. An apparatus as defined by claim 14, in which said connection strip (46, 70) exerts a force upon the fuel injection valve (1) for axially fixing the fuel injection valve (1) in place. 
     
     
       19. An apparatus as defined by claim 1, in which a connection plug (21) is disposed on the connection strip (14, 46, 70) for connection to said electrically conductive elements (37) of the plugs (9). 
     
     
       20. An apparatus as defined by claim 1, in which said connection strip (70) is made from plastic and includes raised hoods (71) spaced apart from one another, each of said raised hoods have a blind-bore-like plug opening (72), into each of which an insert body (88) is inserted, by means of which said electrically conductive elements (37) are retained. 
     
     
       21. An apparatus as defined by claim 20, in which said electrically conductive elements (37) are electrically conductively connected in the plugs (9) with electric lines (85) guided in said connection strip (70), and said electric lines in the connection strip (70) are embodied as strip-like contact rails. 
     
     
       22. An apparatus as defined by claim 21, in which said electrically conductive elements (37) are embodied as flat plugs (37). 
     
     
       23. An apparatus as defined by claim 21, in which each strip-like contact rail (85) is bent in a meandering pattern out of its strip plane, forming hoops (86), and each hoop (86) protrudes into one plug opening (72), and each hoop (86) extends between the wall of the insert body (88) and the wall of the plug opening (72). 
     
     
       24. An apparatus as defined by claim 20, in which said connection strip (70) can be fastened to the engine and in this process exerts a force upon each fuel injection valve (1) for a axial fixation of the fuel injection valve (1). 
     
     
       25. An apparatus as defined by claim 20, in which a connection plug (21) is disposed on the connection strip (70) and connected via electric lines (85) with said electrically conductive elements (37) of the plugs (9).